Its a business

”It’s a business.”

How many times have we heard this phrase in response to an event that occurred in the NFL? Whether it be players finding new teams, people getting fired or cut, or even into the realm of conspiracy—where high profile players may get away with something a lesser known player would not have. This is a common phrase, but to what extent will the NFL go while saying “it’s a business”?

I can comfortably say “pretty far,” and back this statement up with relative ease. As recently as this past summer (2021), the NFL owners have given us a bright big example of how the league is a business, or in other words: all about money.

The NFL is run by a board of elected chairmen. Who are these chairmen? The owners of each franchise. Whether sole owner, or majority, every team has one elected official to represent them at each board meeting. At these high end meetings, the owners debate until they come to agreement on critical issues like who the NFL commissioner will be. Yes, the commissioner has the power to fine an owner, but if all owners and CEO’s agree that a new commissioner is needed, they can override his power and elect a new one.

What happened this summer that was so important? The NFL lowered the salary cap for each team, giving them less money to spend on free agents and retaining players. The goal was to make up for the lost funds due to COVID-19. However, it turns out that the NFL franchises actually gained MORE this past year, likely due to all the broadcasting deals and massive viewerships.

The league played it off and claimed that in order to make up for the lost funds due to no fans, the players needed to take less. A bold faced lie, but in the end the heads in charge make a bigger buck than usual. It’s all about the money.

𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙃𝙪𝙧𝙩 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙧

There’s a story most football fans know. A video you have probably seen, shows the story of Lawrence Taylor and Joe Theissman. Joe took the snap and handed the ball to his running back, but after a flea flicker (the running back pitched the ball back to the QB) Lawrence Taylor scooted around his blocker and jumped on Joe Theissman’s back. As the two players crumpled to the ground, most of Taylor’s weight fell on Theissman’s leg at a nightmarish angle, snapping the bone in two.

In another game, Bears linebacker Wilber Marshall rushes in on Lions quarterback Joe Fergusson. As Fergusson escapes the pocket he hops into the air, launching a over the oncoming rusher before taking a massive blow. As Fergusson floated before him, Wilber Marshall put two arms forward and threw his shoulders into the defenseless quarterback staring him down. Fergusson was sent flying, and the medical staff came out to eventually haul him off the field.

Everyone knows quarterbacks are the money makers in the NFL. That’s why they get the big bucks, consistently setting the record year after year for highest paid player in NFL history; but when a team loses it’s starting quarterback what happens then?

In 2017, the Packers started the season 4-1 with Aaron Rodgers, but after an injury in the first quarter of the sixth game, the Packers lost their star quarterback for the season. The team went 3-8 down the stretch and missed the playoffs at 7-9 overall.

The NFL had been enforcing special rules to protect their players (primarily quarterbacks) but after 2017 saw a quarterback who had thrown 40 touchdowns the previous season go down and his team crumble without him, new emphasis on protecting the quarterback was needed. Defensive players were now required to avoid hitting quarterbacks head on, as well as being flagged and fined if they were to land on top of a quarterback while tackling them to the ground.

In the first three weeks of the next NFL season, many players including stars like Gerald McCoy and Von Miller were fined for hits on quarterbacks. However, after outcry from the fans, officiating was once again changed to the heart of the game. Quarterbacks were players and therefor should be tackled if the chance arises. The point from the NFL still resonates though: don’t hurt the money maker.

When a franchise quarterback goes down, the team is likely to lose more games. Peyton Manning missed all of 2011 and the Colts won two games. Rodgers was injured in 2017 and his team missed the playoffs after starting 4-1. The Steelers in the 70’s are often in debate over whether they could’ve won a fifth ring if Terry Bradshaw hadn’t been hurt after a dirty hit made him miss time. Again, when a franchise quarterback goes down, the team is likely to lose more games. Losses and missing the playoffs has a general correlation to lower profits compared to teams that win many games and make the playoffs each year. The Packers suffered from merchandise sales, stadium tours and Packers Hall of Fame tours and much more once Rodgers exited the lineup.

𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮

After moves like those it’s clear the NFL works around the money, but it’s a business. That’s to be expected. The question is still to be answered, how far will they go?

The NFL likes to talk up their restrictions on player conduct, promoting heavy implications that they do not allow violence or criminal activity of any kind, and even go as far to say if you are suspected or involved but not fully guilty you will face punishment. Do they uphold those laws?

NFL - “Players convicted of a crime or subject to a disposition of a criminal proceeding (as defined in this Policy) are subject to discipline. But even if the conduct does not result in a criminal conviction, players found to have engaged in any of the following conduct will be subject to discipline.”

This seems pretty straightforward. Act like an ass and you’ll get spanked, right? Take a look at rule number one.

”Actual or threatened physical violence against another person, including dating violence, domestic violence, child abuse, and other forms of family violence;”

That sounds important, especially considering star wide receiver Tyreek Hill has been in numerous interactions that endanger others, including his pregnant girlfriend and four year old child; but Hill wasn’t suspended or even fined by the league. Amid his allegations the league actually rewarded Hill, giving him a 3-year $39million contract.

Tyreek Hill was found guilty of threatening and physically assaulting his pregnant girlfriend in college. The NCAA kicked Tyreek from their schools on two separate occasions over the matter. Once when accused, once when found guilty. Shortly after, the NFL saw his skillsets and decided Hill deserved a second chance. Now in the NFL, Hill was accused by his former girlfriend and four year old son of breaking the young boys arm while in a fit of rage.

A clear violation of rule number one, is it not?

The real issue in the NFL’s eyes is not that Hill broke a blatant rule regarding personal conduct, but that Hill plays for the Kansas City Chiefs.

At the time, the Chiefs were an up and coming team with new quarterback Patrick Mahomes taking the league by storm with his plethora of superstar talent around him. Guys like Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Kareem Hunt highlighted the outstanding weapons for the jaw dropping Patrick Mahomes to spread the ball to. They drew attention and lots of money from the fans around the league.

There was a hope that this team could be the team to end the Patriots dynasty. A new rivalry for the league. First, Brady and Manning. Second, the Steelers vs the Patriots. Now the Chiefs would have their turn.

The great rivalries are the big bucks for the NFL. Everyone wants to see Brady vs Manning, or cheer for the Steelers to finally beat the Patriots in the playoffs. They pay lots of money for Antonio Brown and Leveon Bell jerseys. The games are broadcast on primetime for the highest viewer ratings. Why? Because that’s where the money is. The NFL glorifies one team, then hypes up another team that may have the chance to finally beat this golden team.

The Patriots were that golden team, and the Chiefs were the ones on the rise. The team chosen to have the best chance to finally unseat Brady and the Patriots atop the NFL.

Tyreek Hill was a key contributor to the success of the Chiefs, with breathtaking speed that allowed him to stretch the field in a way that hadn’t been seen since Randy Moss. After Kareem Hunt had a video released to the public showing him assaulting a 19 year old woman in a hotel, the Chiefs were forced to release him. After losing only two of their first eleven games, the Chiefs lost two of their last five, narrowly winning one in overtime and capping another off with a touchdown in the closing minutes. The Chiefs were left with a massive hole, and the offense sputtered to one dimensional. They would lose to the Patriots in the AFC Championship.

They were only one running back away though, and with the new accusations against Tyreek Hill it was obvious the Chiefs would not be able to overcome a second devastating blow to their star power. The league waived away Hill’s charges and elected not to suspend or punish the wideout.

A money move.

With Hill in the lineup, the Chiefs were able to bounce back and win the Super Bowl the following year, while falling short the year after. The Chiefs were the number one team in the league—the money maker. Hill excelled in the following two seasons, earning two Pro Bowl nods and an All Pro in that time. Hill had multiple 200-yard games and proved to be a nightmarish matchup for opposing defenses. His speed left him to be double teamed on every play or pay the price.

Tyreek Hill isn’t the only example where the NFL ignored misconduct. The Panthers were once an elite team coming out of the NFC South, with a strong defensive line and linebacking core paving the way. Greg Hardy was a dominant force off the edge, standing at 6’5, 280 lbs he was an enormous man coming off the edge that bullied offensive tackles to 34 sacks and 44 tackles for loss in 40 games with the Panthers.

In 2014, Hardy was accused and found guilty of assaulting his girlfriend. According to his then girlfriend, Nicole Holder, Hardy threw her against a bathroom wall, threw her on a bed cover in assault riffles, choking her, and threatening her life while holding an AK-47 machine gun. (Photos of the attack can be seen here).

Detective Strother: “𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣?“

Nicole Holder: “𝙃𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙩... 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚. 𝙃𝙚’𝙨 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩.“

Following the accusations, Hardy was immediately released by the Panthers following a week one game in which he recorded a sack, a forced fumble, and four tackles. The NFL smacked him with a 15-game suspension, and Hardy missed the remainder of the season.

The following offseason, the Dallas Cowboys decided his past could be forgiven and gave him a contract that could earn him up to $11.3mil in one season.

Michael Vick spent two years in prison for dog fighting. Ray Rice punched his girlfriend once and never played another down. Jerry Jones what are you thinking? How is this remotely acceptable to allow a human being like this to play in the NFL?

The answer? He’s good. He isn’t just good, he’s dominant. Following the loss of Hardy, the Panthers dropped from 12 wins to 7. Of course, he wasn’t the only factor, but his presence was surely missed on the field. Greg Hardy was one of the better edge rushers in the league and the Cowboys thought they had a cheap option to soar back to the top of the NFL.

Perhaps it was just karma, but the g backfired. Greg Hardy was apart of multiple altercations within the team, including arguing with coaches and players. He even grabbed a clipboard out of a special teams coaches hands and broke it after the kickoff team had allowed a touchdown on the previous kick. The oft-outspoken Dez Bryant got into a heated discussion with Greg Hardy after Hardy got into a shoving match on the sideline. The Cowboys released him before the seasons end.

The NFL has a “firm stance” on its Personal Conduct Policy as it says. Yet consistently we see impact players escape proper justice due to the benefit they could give a team or the leagues wallet. Jameis Winston has been apart of two sexual assault cases, Adrian Peterson physically assaulted two separate children, even giving one a concussion. These players all got second chances in the league, most of which are still playing.

I find it distressing that if not for Hardy’s ridiculous sideline altercations on the Cowboys, he might still be in the league today.

The NFL is a business, and every decision they make is made with the intent of boosting their business. Kareem Hunt was welcomed back to the league after just one season, yet Ray Rice was never allowed to suit up again. Both assaulted a woman, both caught on video. One was far more dominant.

It’s all about the money when it comes to business, and in the NFL it’s just business.

#Alliance

#GoClub